Mechanical and Thermo-Physical Properties of Short Glass Fiber Reinforced Polybutylene Terephthalate upon Aging in Lubricant/Refrigerant Mixture

In this study, the relationship between structure and mechanical properties of aged PBT composite was investigated. Short glass fiber reinforced PBT composites were subjected to aging tests in environments typically found in hermetic compressors. Diffusion kinetics were addressed by a periodic control of samples weight, and samples aged in oil presented mass variation of 1.2-1.6%, depending on test temperature. Most diffusion curves followed Fickian behavior, and the diffusion coefficient for each condition was obtained. Aging effect was investigated by 3-point bending tests, where samples age...